Mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports

Wellington's mayor is under pressure after acknowledging an alcohol problem. Her admission was prompted by media questions about drunken 'antics' based in part on a reported recording which no media outlet has yet confirmed - and which was contradicted by the only eye-witness on the record. Wellington's mayor is under pressure after acknowledging an alcohol problem. Her admission was prompted by media questions about drunken 'antics' based in part on a reported recording which no media outlet has yet confirmed - and which was contradicted by the only eye-witness on the record. 'Who wields the power?' asks the front page of this weekend's edition of the Wellington paper The Post above its ranking of the 50 most powerful people in and around the capital. Coming in at number seven was the city's mayor Tory Whanau - though The Post said that her status was "in jeopardy" because she admitted to a drinking problem this week following what The Post described as "weeks of torrid rumours" about her behavior. Just two days earlier, her behaviour one recent night out led the paper's front page. That story said Whanau was "again forced to defend allegations of drunken behavior in public" after what The Post understood was an incident that took place at a central Wellington bar two weekends ago - and was "rumored to have been recorded by a third party." And rumour was a key part of the story. Those who read to the end of it were left wondering what had happened that day at the bar - and who knew about it and who might have recorded or even seen the evidence of it. In her statement, Whanau said it was to "her great embarrassment and shame" that an "incident ... seemed to have been recorded." But The Post said that the co-owner of Havana bar was "perplexed" because he was there, and the mayor and her friends "weren't intoxicated." The Post's story may not have been a surprise to those who heard RNZ National's Checkpoint the day before. "Whanau has admitted to more drunken antics in a central city Bar. She has confirmed to RNZ she has a drinking problem after multiple council sources, including supporters of the mayor, told RNZ about footage showing her in an intoxicated state," host Lisa Owen told listeners. Whanau's full statement doesn't acknowledge any drunken 'antics.' Checkpoint said several sources confirmed the mayor was at the Havana bar on that day with friends "having a rowdy time ... and this has apparently been captured on video." … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details